Integrating Sandtray Play Therapy into your Practice

Join us September 14-15, 2026 for an immersive two-day keynote course that introduces the transformative power of sandtray play therapy for clients of all ages. This course is designed for both beginner and experienced sand therapists and provides an in-depth foundation in theory and practice. Participants will receive a comprehensive coursebook of over 100 pages, covering everything you need to know to get started with sandtray therapy, as well as a special journal to guide you on this journey and beyond. Through a combination of experiential activities, role plays, hands-on exercises, and video demonstrations, you’ll deepen your understanding of how sandtray and play therapy can facilitate healing. Personal sandtray creations, grounded in the Therapeutic Powers of Play, will help affirm the healing potential of these approaches. This course also covers the key principles of play therapy and sandtray therapy, exploring the use of images in the sand, and incorporating theory, practice, ethics, and self-exploration.

Whether you’re just beginning your sandtray therapy journey or looking to enhance your existing practice, this course will provide you with the tools to integrate sandtray play therapy as a powerful and healing approach to your work with clients.

Additionally, this course will count for 12 hours of credit toward becoming a Registered Sand Therapist for those seeking this credential.

 

Learning Objectives:

 

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the history, theory, philosophical basis, and rationale for sandtray therapy as a key component of play therapy.

2. Demonstrate knowledge regarding the selection of sandtray therapy materials, including sand tray containers, miniature figurines, and sand (or other sand-like materials), and how these materials are used within the framework of play therapy.

3. Identify the 4 differences between directive and non-directive approaches in sandtray therapy and play therapy practices.

4. Identify 4 key aspects of the neurobiological effects of trauma in relation to sandtray work and how these can be addressed through play therapy interventions.

5. Describe 3 ways to process trauma in the sandtray therapy process using play therapy techniques.

6. Describe 3 interventions for processing sandtray therapy with preschool and school-aged children within a play therapy context.

7. Identify 3 ways sandtray therapy can be used with adolescent clients in conjunction with play therapy approaches.

8. Identify 3 ways to process sandtray therapy with adult clients, incorporating play therapy principles for deeper healing.

9. Describe 2 interventions to utilize sandtray therapy with couples and families, integrating both sandtray and play therapy modalities.

10. Explain the differences between sandplay and sandtray therapy, and their respective roles in the play therapy process.

11. Demonstrate an understanding of working with various client populations and client issues in the sandtray therapy process, including how these approaches intersect with play therapy.

12. Explore the transformative potential of sandtray and play therapy in self-exploration and healing, focusing on the therapeutic powers of play.

13. Develop practical skills for incorporating sandtray therapy into a therapeutic practice, ensuring ethical considerations and client-centered approaches are maintained throughout the process.

 

About the Presenter

Tammi Van Hollander, LCSW, RPT-S™, RST-C/T is a licensed clinical social worker with over 25 years of experience and the owner and clinical director of Main Line Play Therapy: An Expressive Therapies Center. She is internationally recognized for her leadership in play therapy and sandtray work and is the author of The Bibliotherapy Toolbox, a widely used professional resource, as well as children’s books that support connection and resilience, including The Loving Stop Sign: A Story About Connection, Not Correction. A leader in the field, Tammi played a pivotal role in co-teaching the first-ever sandtray therapy class in China and is a founding board member of the World Association for Sand Therapy Professionals (WASTP), dedicated to research, ethical standards, and global community building. She is a sought-after international speaker, delivered a TEDx Talk in 2023 (Stories in the Sand: Healing Trauma, Anxiety, and Grief), and has presented at the inaugural conference of the Association for Play Therapy Kenya.